Spot clinch means and method

ABSTRACT

Spot clinch method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a power source in a single station, the power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke, said method utilizing an anvil, die and punch, said method comprising moving either the punch or anvil while maintaining the other stationary during the complete stroke of the power source, moving one of the punch and anvil toward the other during a first part of the power stroke, lancing the materials by piercing them with the punch and die during a second part of the power stroke, holding the die in a first position spaced from the anvil during both the first and second parts of the power stroke, moving the die to a second position in respect to the anvil during a third part of the power stroke, swaging the lanced portion of the materials during a fourth and final part of the power stroke, maintaining the die and the anvil in the second position during the fourth and final part of the power stroke and during a first part of the retract stroke, and moving the die relative to the anvil from the second position to the first position during a second and final part of the retract stroke.

United States Patent Schleicher 1 Aug. 26, 1975 SPOT CLINCH MEANS AND METHOD Louis C. Schleicher, 20,031 Edmunton, St. Clair Shores, Mich. 48080 [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 494,982

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Victor A. DiPalma Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam L. Fisher, Esq,

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT Spot clinch method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a power source in a single station, the power source having a power stroke and a retract-stroke, said method utilizing an anvil, die and punch, said method comprising moving either the punch or anvil while maintaining the other stationary during the complete stroke of the power source, moving one of the punch and anvil toward the other during a first partof the power stroke, lancing the materials by piercing them with the punch and die during a second part of the power stroke, holding the die in a first position spaced from the anvil during both the first and second parts of the power stroke, moving the die to a second position in respect to the anvil during a third part of the power stroke, swaging the lanced portion of the materials during a fourth and final part of the power stroke, maintaining the die and the anvil in the second position during the fourth and final part of the power stroke and during a first part of the retract stroke, and moving the die relative to the anvil from the second position to the first position during a second and final part of the retract stroke.

6 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUBZBIQYE 3.900.937

SHLET 1 [1F 4 PIC-3.5

PATENTEU M1826 I975 saw 2 0F 9 FIG. 9

FIG. 6

SPOT CLINCI-I MEANS AND METHOD or two separately actuatable rams in a single station.

Also it is known to use a single station by the use of a spring actuated expanding die or by a spring actuated swaging punch.

The principal obejct of my invention is to accomplish the fastening of two or more sheet materials with method and apparatus using one complete stroke of a power source in a single station and without the necessity of an expandable die or expandable swaging punch.

Another object of my invention is to achieve a com pact, self-contained mechanism which can be easily transported to the materials being fastened, as well as be mounted fast to a table, bench or the like.

The foregoing objects of my invention and the advantages thereof will become apparent during the course of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, top and bottom plan views of two metal sheets fastened together by a spot clinch joint formed by lancing and swaging in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1 taken along the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the structure of FIG. 3 taken along the line line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a typical punch, die and anvil set used in my invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a spot clinching tool embodying my invention shown in fully open starting position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with said tool shown in a forward position of the power stroke where the lancing of the sheets has just been completed;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 6 taken along the line 8-8 thereof;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 7 taken along the line 9-9 thereof;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with said tool shown in a further forward position of the power stroke where the die has just retracted;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with said tool shown in the fully forward position of the power stroke where the lanced portion of the joint has been swaged;

FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 10 taken along the line 12-12 thereof;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 11 taken along the line 13-13 thereof;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with said tool shown in a return position of the retract stroke where the punch has retracted from the lanced portion of the joint;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with parts removed and with said tool shown in the final position of the retract stroke where the die has been cammed above the anvil and the punch has been fully retracted and in position to start the next power stroke; and

FIGS. 16 and 17 are horizontal sectional views of the structure of FIG. 14 taken, respectively, along the lines 1616 and 17-17 thereof.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, 20 generally designates said spot clinch tool and 21 said spot clinch joint formed thereby. Said tool 20 includes a main body 27 which houses or holds the other parts. The main body 27 consists of a large block of metal having a cavity 30, a crank aperture 28, a spring cavity 29, an access aperture 31, and an anvil-holding aperture 33 formed therein. Mounted to said body 27 is a power source 32 which imparts reciprocating motion to a crank 51 of the spot clinch tool 20. Said power source 32 has one complete stroke consisting first of a power stroke and second (and lastly) of a retract stroke. In the instance, said power source 32 is a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod having a rod end 56. A link 54 is connected to said rod end 56 by a pin 55 and to said crank 51 by a pin 52. Said crank 51 is also connected to a punch retainer 45 by a pin 50 and to a pair of links 57 by a pin 53. Said links 57 are connected to said body 27 by a pin'61. Rigidly mounted to said links 57 is a cam actuator 58 which has spaced apart cam actuating fingers 59 and 60. Mounted between said links 57 and on said pin 61 is a cam 62 which includes a cam depres sion 65, spaced apart cam shoulders 63 and 64 which provide another cam depression therebetween and a cam land 66. Operating in conjunction with said cam 62 is a cam follower 67 which is connected to die retainer 37 by a pin 68 in an aperture 40. Said die retainer 37 consists of another block of metal having spring cavity 39, cam follower aperture 40, a crank aperture 38, and an anvil clearance aperture 41 formed therein. Said die retainer 37 is vertically moveable in said cavity 30 upwardly by said cam 62 and downwardly by a compression spring 44. A die 69 is mounted fast to the lower end of said die retainer 37 and contains an anvil aperture 70. An anvil 42 is rigidly mounted to said body 27 in said anvil-holding aperture 33. An operative end 43 of said anvil 42 fits slidably into said aperture 70 of said die 69. Cover plates 34, 35 and 36 serve to contain said die retainer 37 and a punch retainer 45 in said cavity 30. Said punch retainer 45, which is connected to said crank 51 by said pin 50, consists of another block of metal having a crank aperture 46 and a punch-holding aperture 47 formed therein. A punch 48 is rigidly mounted to said punch retainer 45. Said spring 44 is contained by said spring cavities 29 and 39 and serves to keep said cam follower 67 in contact with said cam 62.

FIG. 6 shows the spot clinch tool 20 at the beginning of the power stroke of said power source 32 with said cam actuating finger 60 engaged with said cam shoulder 63 and holding said cam follower 67 on said cam land 66 which in turn compresses said spring 44 and holds said die 69 above said anvil operative end 43 and punch operative end 49 above said die 69, all within said access aperture 31. The work in the form of metal sheets 22 and 23, in the instance, is either fed into said access aperture 31 and laid upon said die 69 in proper position beneath said punch 48 where the joint 21 is to be formed therein or said sheets 22 and 23 are held stationary and said tool 20 is moved into position around said sheets 22 and 23 so that the latter are disposed in said access aperture 31 to form said joint 21 therein were desired. During a first part of said power stroke said operative end 49 of said punch 48 is moved toward said die 69 and during a second part of said power stroke said punch 48 lances the sheets 22 and 23 through as shown in FIG. 7, forming a depression 25 in said joint 21. The pins 50, 53 and 61, along with the crank 51 and the links 57, constitute a three pin toggle mechanism in which said pin 61 remains stationary while said pin 50 moves up and down and said pin 53 moves in and out of alignment with said pins 50 and 61 When said pin 53 is aligned with said pins 50 and 61 the toggle mechanism is locked and when said pin 53 is out of alignment with said pins 50 and 61 the toggle mechanism is unlocked. Such movement of said punch 48 is accomplished directly by said toggle mechanism consequent upon initial downward movement of the rod end 56. Said toggle mechanism connects said punch 48 to said power source 32 so that the latter drives the former in a substantially harmonic motion in respect to the base 27 and so that first and second multiplications of the force of said power source 32 are achieved during the lancing and swaging steps, respectively, in the formation of said joint 21. The lancing by the punch 48 is fully completed before said pin 53 moves into its lock position. While the lancing is being accomplished, the cam actuating finger 59 advances toward said cam shoulder 64 and rotates said cam 62 so that during a third part of the power stroke the cam 62 is positioned to allow said cam follower 67 to enter said cam depression 65 as urged by said spring 44, thus retracting said die 69 below operative end 49 of said punch 48, as shown in FIG. 10. Retraction of said die 69 below said operative end 49 as shown in FIG. prior to the subsequent swaging step to be described prepares the way and makes room for the expulsion of the swaged material on the side of the metal sheets 22 and 23 opposite that from which said depression is formed, particularly as shown at 26 in FIG. 4. During such movement of said die 69 the shoulder 64 leaves the finger 59 upon rotation of the cam 62 by the cam follower 67. Such movement of said die 69 is accomplished indirectly by said toggle mechanism consequent upon further downward movement of said rod end 56 and directly by said cam follower 67 moving into said cam depression 65. During a fourth and final part of said power stroke the operative end 49 of said punch 48 is moved toward said operative end 43 of said anvil 42 and swages the lanced portions of the sheets 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 11. Such movement of said punch 48 is accomplished directly by said toggle mechanism moving to lock position consequent upon final downward movement of said rod end 56. Multiplication of the force of said power source 32 by said toggle mechanism is at a maximum during this swaging step. The swaging by said punch 48 is completed by completion of the movement of the pin 53 into its lock position at the end of the power stroke of said power source 32. During this swaging step the lanced portions of the sheets 22 and 23 are enlarged or expulsed, as at 26, to a greater dimension than the depression 25 so that the joint 21 is completely and permanently locked.

During a first part of the retract stroke of said power source 32 said punch 48 is moved away from said anvil 42 and out of said depression 25 before said die 69 is moved as shown in FIG. 14. During such movement of said punch 48 the finger 60 moves toward the shoulder 63 in a lost motion action (by reason of said cam depression between the cam shoulders 63 and 64 being greater in dimension than the space between said fingets 59 and 60) so that all movement of said die 69 is prevented during upward retraction of said operative end 49 out of said depression 25 and away from said sheets 22 and 23 to insure that the joint 21 just formed and finally swages is not in any way deformed or impaired by said die 69. Such movement of the punch 48 is accomplished directly by said toggle mechanism moving out of its lock position consequent upon initial upward movement of said rod end 56. Said lost motion action is designated 71 (see FIGS. 7 and 1 1) and allows said crank 51 to raise said punch 48 before said cam actuating finger 60 contacts said cam shoulder 63 in said retract stroke. During a second and final part of said retract stroke said die 69 is raised back to its starting position as shown in FIG. 15. The upper end of FIG. 15 (not shown) is identical to that shown in FIG. 6. Such movement of said die 69 is accomplished indirectly by said toggle mechanism consequent upon final upward movement of said rod end 56 and directly by said cam follower 67 being moved out of said cam depression 65 by virtue of said cam finger 60 pushing upon said shoulders 63 to raise said cam follower 67 upon said cam land 66. During such movement of said die 69 the parts of said tool 20 are moved back to their respective initial starting positions including said spring 44 which is compressed to its initial starting condition. The work is either removed from said access aperture 31 and a new work inserted in its place and the aforementioned operation repeated or the same work can be indexed to a new position to form repeated spaced apart joints therein (sometimes referred to as a mechanical stitch seam consisting of said spaced apart joints) or the tool 20 is moved, while the work is held stationary, either to a new work or indexed in respect to the same work to form said mechanical stitch seam. The tool 20 is operative not only in the vertical position shown but in an overhead or any other position in which said tool 20 may be oriented.

The tool 20 is operated in said one complete stroke of said power source 32 and during such operation of said tool 20 the punch 48 moves in respect to the base 27 in a substantially harmonic motion during said complete stroke of said power source 32 due to the action of said toggle mechanism. The anvil 42 remains stationary in respect to said base 27 all during the operation of said tool 20. During the first part of the power stroke said punch 48 moves downwardly to meet the anvil 42 and thereafter the lancing step is accomplished during a second part of said power stroke by said punch 48 piercing through the metal sheets 22 and 23 and forming said depression 25 while said die 69 is maintained elevated in respect to said anvil 42. A first force multiplication of said power source 32 is achieved at the punch 48 by said toggle mechanism during this lancing step. Upon completion of the lancing step said die 69 is lowered during a third part of said power stroke to the operative end 43 of said anvil 42 to accomodate the expulsion or cold flow of the work which will occur during the subsequent swaging step. During the fourth and final part of the power stroke the lanced portions of the metal sheets 22 and 23 are swaged by movement of said punch 48 to its maximum close position in respect to the anvil 42. Force multiplication of the power source 32 by said toggle mechanism at said punch 48 is at a maximum and said expulsion 26 of said lanced portions occurs during said swaaging step. The retract stroke of said power source 32 commences upon completion of said swaging step and during the first part of said retract stroke said die 69 is maintained stationary in respect to said operative end 43 by said lost motion arrangement to insure movement of the punch 48 out of said depression 25 and above the work prior to any movement whatsoever of said die 69. During the sec- 0nd and final part of said retract stroke the die 69 is raised above said operative end 43 and the punch 48 is raised further above the work so that said die 69 and said punch 48 assume their respective initial starting positions.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by my invention method and means of forming a clinch joint in which the objects hereinabove set forth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, have been successfully achieved. While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that variations and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims,

What I claim is:

1. Spot clinch tool for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a power source in a single station, said power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke, said tool utilizing an anvil, die and punch means for moving one of said punch and anvil while maintaining the other stationary during said complete stroke of said power source, means for moving one of said punch and anvil toward the other during a first part of said power stroke, means for piercing said materials with said punch and die to lance them during a second part of said power stroke, means for holding the die in a first position spaced from the anvil during both said first and second parts of said power stroke, means for moving the die to a second position in respect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, means for swaging the lanced portions of said materials with said punch and anvil during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, means for maintaining the die and the anvil in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during a first part of said retract stroke, and means for moving said die relative to said anvil from said second position to said first position during a second and final part of said retract stroke.

2. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 1 in which said anvil is maintained stationary during said complete stroke of said power source and further comprising a toggle mechanism, said toggle mechanism moveable during said complete stroke of said power source for moving said punch in a substantially harmonic motion in respect to said anvil during said complete stroke of said power source, said toggle mechanism achieving first and second force multiplications at said punch of the force of said power source during said lancing and swaging steps, respectively, cam means, cam actuator means for actuating said cam means, said cam actuator means operative during movement of said toggle mechanism, said cam means and said cam actuator means together holding said die stationary in said first position during both said first and second parts of said power stroke and moving said die to said second position during said third part of said power stroke and maintaining said die stationary in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during said first part of said retract stroke, and moving said die from said second position to said first position and maintaining said die stationary in said first position during said second and final part of said retract stroke.

3. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 2, said cam means having a depression formed therein so that during said first part of said retract stroke said cam means remains stationary during movement of said cam actuator means to maintain said die stationary to permit movement of the punch away from the anvil during said first part of said retract stroke and prior to final movement of said die to its initial starting position.

4. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 2 further comprising, cam follower means operative upon said cam means, a die retainer means for holding said die, said cam follower means fast in respect to said die retainer means, and yieldable means operative upon said die retainer means for maintaining said cam follower means biased against said cam means.

5. Spot clinch method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a power source in a single station, said power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke, said method utilizing an anvil, die and punch, said method comprising moving one of said punch and anvil while maintaining the other stationary during said complete stroke of said power source, moving said one of said punch and anvil toward the other during a first part of said power stroke, lancing said materials by piercing them with said punch and die during a second part of said power stroke, holding the die in a first position spaced from the anvil during both said first and second parts of said power stroke, moving the die to a second position in respect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, swaging the lanced portion of said materials during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, maintaining the die and the anvil in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during a first part of said retract stroke, and moving said die relative to said anvil from said second position to said first position during a second and final part of said retract stroke.

6. Spot clinch method as claimed in claim 1 in which said anvil is maintained stationary and said punch is moved in a substantially harmonic motion in respect to said anvil during said complete stroke of said power source, and in which said die is held stationary in said first position during both said first and second parts of said power stroke and moved to said second position during said third part of said power stroke and maintained stationary in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during said first part of said retract stroke, and moved from said second to said first position and maintained stationary in said first position during said second and final part of said retract stroke. 

1. Spot clinch tool for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a power source in a single station, said power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke, said tool utilizing an anvil, die and punch means for moving one of said punch and anvil while maintaining the other stationary during said complete stroke of said power source, means for moving one of said punch and anvil toward the other during a first part of said power stroke, means for piercing said materials with said punch and die to lance them during a second part of said power stroke, means for holding the die in a first position spaced from the anvil during both said first and second parts of said power stroke, means for moving the die to a second position in respect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, means for swaging the lanced portions of said materials with said punch and anvil during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, means for maintaining the die and the anvil in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during a first part of said retract stroke, and means for moving said die relative to said anvil from said second position to said first position during a second and final part of said retract stroke.
 2. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 1 in which said anvil is maintained stationary during said complete stroke of said power source and further comprising a toggle mechanism, said toggle mechanism moveable during said complete stroke of said power source for moving said punch in a substantially harmonic motion in respect to said anvil during said complete stroke of said power source, said toggle mechanism achieving first and second force multiplications at said punch of the force of said power source during said lancing and swaging steps, respectively, cam means, cam actuator means for actuating said cam means, said cam actuator means operative during movement of said toggle mechanism, said cam means and said cam actuator means together holding said die stationary in said first position during both said first and second parts of said power stroke and moving said die to said second position during said third part of said power stroke and maintaining said die stationary in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during said first part of said retract stroke, and moving said die from said second position to said first position and maintaining said die stationary in said first position during said second and final part of said retract stroke.
 3. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 2, said cam means having a depression formed therein so that during said first part of said retract stroke said cam means remains stationary during movement of said cam actuator means to maintain said die stationary to permit movement of the punch away from the anvil during said first part of said retract stroke and prior to final movement of said die to its initial starting position.
 4. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 2 further comprising, cam follower Means operative upon said cam means, a die retainer means for holding said die, said cam follower means fast in respect to said die retainer means, and yieldable means operative upon said die retainer means for maintaining said cam follower means biased against said cam means.
 5. Spot clinch method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a power source in a single station, said power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke, said method utilizing an anvil, die and punch, said method comprising moving one of said punch and anvil while maintaining the other stationary during said complete stroke of said power source, moving said one of said punch and anvil toward the other during a first part of said power stroke, lancing said materials by piercing them with said punch and die during a second part of said power stroke, holding the die in a first position spaced from the anvil during both said first and second parts of said power stroke, moving the die to a second position in respect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, swaging the lanced portion of said materials during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, maintaining the die and the anvil in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during a first part of said retract stroke, and moving said die relative to said anvil from said second position to said first position during a second and final part of said retract stroke.
 6. Spot clinch method as claimed in claim 1 in which said anvil is maintained stationary and said punch is moved in a substantially harmonic motion in respect to said anvil during said complete stroke of said power source, and in which said die is held stationary in said first position during both said first and second parts of said power stroke and moved to said second position during said third part of said power stroke and maintained stationary in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during said first part of said retract stroke, and moved from said second to said first position and maintained stationary in said first position during said second and final part of said retract stroke. 